Woodworker's Journal 2006-30-2, страница 64

TOOL REVIEW

General International 50-750

General's 50-750 was somewhat of a mixed blessing for me, but there were far more positives than negatives to this machine when the dust settled. For starters, the one piece cast-iron arm proved to be stiff, measuring just .032" of deflection at the tip, and the motor carriage rolled along smoothly. The control levers on this machine aren't quite as stout as the other two test saws, but they still locked in the settings securely every time. The radial and bevel tilt scales are bright and easy to read, and the motor's pistol-style handle was contoured and ribbed for a good grip. I really liked the placement of the on/off magnetic switch here: it's located right above the grip, so you can shut things down without moving either hand.

Speaking of safety, the 50-750 has some other noteworthy bells and whistles. The blade guard has a drop-down lower housing that shields the blade more effectively than the leaf-style

guards on the other two saws. You can set and lock this lower guard so it skims just above the workpiece for maximum coverage. It makes sighting the blade on a cutting line a bit more difficult, but it sure keeps that big blade covered. Thanks to an electric brake, the blade stops quickly, too, in just a few seconds. I wish this machine had an anti-kickback rod and pawls, like the other two. It comes with a riving knife that bolts to the guard, but the knife extends down too far for a 12" blade, so I couldn't use it. Without a functional riving knife or pawls, I didn't tempt fate by rip cutting on this machine.

General's 50-750 will give you a generous 15V' of crosscutting capacity and a maximum ripping range of just over 25". The 5/8" arbor accepts a dado blade, but you have to remove half of the adjustable blade guard to make room for it. The arbor length will take a stacked set up to about 1/2" wide, and the

Small Shop Friendly

If the cost of a 12" radial arm saw blows your tool budget. Craftsman and Delta still make 10" models at more affordable prices. Craftsman's Laser Trac (model 22010, for $599) features a I Vi HP induction motor with electric brake, laser alignment guide and variable-speed feed rate control system. Delta's 10" saw {model RS830 Professional, for $899) has a I'/jHP capacitor-run motor, cast-iron arm and column and automatic brake. On 8/4 lumber, it will crosscut to 16" wide.

motor has enough oomph to make deep cuts without difficulty.

During my other cutting tests, the 2 HP, TEFC motor handled thick oak and plywood well, but the motor struggled more than the other saws when cutting across 2 x 12 Southern yellow pine. With a gentle, slow pull, it managed the job in the end.

The working height of this machine is taller than the other test saws at 36V' — perfect for us tall guys. It has a smaller tabletop than the 3512-01 or X5 machines, but it's still plenty big for ordinary cutting jobs.

General provides a helpful steel chute that mounts behind the saw and connects to a 4" dust hose. I wish the other two saws had a similar device. The chute worked well to corral most of the sawdust during crosscutting. ItU sure keep your lungs and shop floor cleaner.

Both Delta (above) and Craftsman (left) offer radial arm saws to the home hobbyist. These 10" models each provide 1K horsepower at a more affordable price than their full-size cousins.

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April 2006 Woodworker's Journal